Our monthly ADC meeting will take place on Monday, May 7 at 7:30pm at Minnie Howard School (3801 W. Braddock Rd.). In addition to our normal business and related campaign announcements, I'm pleased to report that we will have a special guest speaker, Bo Shuff, from Progressive Congress to talk about Democratic messaging to voters. Bo was a huge hit at our volunteer training earlier this year and he's back for a repeat performance! You can find Bo's bio below and an agenda for Monday evening is also attached. We look forward to seeing you on Monday, May 7 at 7:30pm!

Bo Shuff serves as the Chief Operating Officer of Progressive Congress, a role he began in August 2011 to help oversee the organization during its Executive Director transition. Bo has spent more than a decade in both organizational and campaign management for progressive candidates and issues across the country. Notable experience includes Hillary Clinton for President, Change to Win, the Human Rights Campaign as well as FieldWorks Consulting. Bo lives in Arlington, VA with his partner of 10 years.

ADC City Council Debate - Wednesday, May 9

This is a reminder that the ADC will hold two debates featuring Alexandria’s Democratic primary candidates with the first one coming up onWednesday, May 9 at Francis C. Hammond Middle School Auditorium, 4646 Seminary Road, Alexandria at 7:00pm. We are pleased to have Bob Gibson from the Sorensen Institute for Political Leadership at the University of Virginia be our moderator. Please put it on your calendar and come out and join us on Wednesday to hear from the Democratic City Council candidates. Primary day is June 12! Please see the attached flyer for more information.

The ADC's annual Jefferson-Jackson Dinner will take place on Saturday, June 9 at the Crowne Plaza Hotel in Old Town. Our keynote speaker will be Governor Tim Kaine and we are VERY excited to have him in Alexandria! In addition, we will take time to honor the service of Vice Mayor Kerry Donley and Councilman Rob Krupicka, as both of them leave City Council later this year. We will also recognize our Volunteer and Precinct Captain of the Year. You'll hear much more about this throughout May. We have attached the invite to this email and look forward to seeing you there on June 9!

On Saturday, May 12 from 12:30pm-3:30pm, OFA will have their grand opening of the Alexandria office at 1400 Duke Street, on the corner of Duke and West, across the street from the original Shiloh Baptist Church. The guest speaker, Terry McAuliffe. Stop by and meet the staff, meet supporters, and learn about the neighborhood teams in the city. Light refreshments will be served. You can RSVP at the following link: https://my.barackobama.com/page/event/detail/officeopening/gpbs7w

Absentee Voting - Now Open!

Absentee voting for the June 12 primaries has started! Many Alexandria voters are eligible to vote absentee, but relatively few take advantage of this option. You can cast your absentee ballot in person at the Alexandria Voter Registration Office, 132 North Royal Street, Suite 100, or by mail. To get more information about absentee voting, voter registration or an update on the new optical scan voting machines, please see the attached June 12 primary fact sheet!

Voter Registration Opportunities

ADC member Kathy Burns is leading an effort to register new voters at Bishop Ireton High School in Alexandria on May 7 and 8. The hours will be 10:20 AM until 12:30 PM. Volunteers are also needed at Northern Virginia Community College on Beauregard on May 22, 23 and 24 between 11:00 AM and 1:00 PM and between 5:00 and 7:30 on the evening of Wednesday, May 23. You will be working with someone from the League of Women Voters, so this will be a non-partisan activity. If you can give one or two hours or more during this time, please contact Kathy at 703-824-1799, or burnskathy@earthlink.netfor more information.

·Residents, businesses, and key
stakeholders are invited to the Expanded Trolley Service Public Information
Meeting on Saturday, May 19 from 9:30 a.m. - 11:30 a.m. at the Cora Kelly,
Library, located at 3600 Commonwealth Avenue, Alexandria, VA 22301. The
meeting will give the public a chance to provide feedback on the following:

Route alignment alternatives to Del Ray and
Arlandria

Naming of the service

Hours and days of operation

After the meeting, attendees will have an
opportunity take a ride on one of City’s new trolley vehicles along Mount
Vernon Avenue from 11:45 am – 12:30 pm

If you have any questions, please contact Pierre Holloman via email at
pierre.holloman@alexandriava.gov or phone 703-746-4080.

On May 5, Alexandria police will conduct a mobile sobriety enforcement campaign called Operation Cinco De Mayo. This enforcement effort is to deter and apprehend intoxicated drivers in Alexandria. The DWI crackdown will begin at 8:00 P.M. on Saturday, May 5, and will continue until 6:00 A.M. on Sunday, May 6. Motorists will be stopped and drivers will be checked to assure that their abilities to drive have not been impaired by alcohol or drugs.

Chief of Police Earl L. Cook reminds drivers that the maximum penalty in Virginia for the first conviction for driving under the influence is 12 months in jail, a $2,500 fine and a 12-month suspension of driving privileges. In addition, there are mandatory jail terms associated with these offenses, depending upon the blood alcohol content of the driver. Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles administrative fees may apply as well.

Trash and Recycling CollectionDue to the Memorial Day holiday on May 28th, residents are reminded that trash and recycling will be picked up one day later during this week than regularly scheduled.Regular collection dayHoliday collection dayMonday TuesdayTuesday WednesdayWednesday ThursdayThursday Friday

Household Hazardous Waste and Electronics Collection

The Household Hazardous Waste and Electronics Collection drop-off center will be closed on Monday, May 28th for the holiday.

Normal hours of operation are every Monday and Saturday from 7:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. located at 3224 Colvin Street.

‘Spring Clean-Up’ – Saturday, May 5 - Area 4

Residents located in Area 4 who receive the City of Alexandria’s refuse collection services are reminded to clear out household clutter this Saturday, and place unwanted bulky trash and metal items at the curb. Visit Alexandriava.gov/SolidWaste to view a map and determine if your household is in Area 4. Remember, the City is divided into four collection areas and each area is assigned a unique Saturday date in April or May when City crews will collect items in that area. Metals should be separated from other items since City refuse crews will be making a special collection for these materials.

Area 1 - April 14, Saturday Collection - Completed

Area 2 - April 21, Saturday Collection - Completed

Area 3 – April 28, Saturday Collection - Completed

Area 4 – May 5, Saturday Collection- Saturday

Leaf Mulch Available for Delivery or Pickup at 4215 Eisenhower Avenue!

Free leaf mulch and wood mulch is currently available to City residents for pickup at the leaf storage facility located at 4215 Eisenhower Avenue. Normal hours of operation are Mon-Sat, 7 am to 3:30 pm. Mulch delivery is available by appointment for a nominal delivery charge. For additional information, questions, or to schedule a delivery call 703.746.4410 or visitAlexandriava.gov/SolidWaste.

Mercury Collection Event Information-Receive a $5 Gift Card

During the month of May, residents who turn-in mercury containing devices such as thermostats or thermometers will receive a $5 gift card for any Giant Grocery Store courtesy of Covanta Energy.Items may be dropped off at the City’s Household Hazardous Waste Center located at 3224 Colvin Street on Saturday or Monday, from 7:30 a.m.- 3:30 p.m.(Note: Fluorescent light bulbs and compact fluorescent lights are collected at the Center, but are not eligible for gift cards.)For more information, please visit Alexandriava.gov/Recycling and choose the Quick Link for Household Hazardous Waste.

Wax-coated Paper Now Recyclable

Items such as wax-coated orange juice and milk containers (gable-topped) and wax-coated frozen food containers are acceptable in the City’s residential recycling program.VisitAlexandriava.gov/Recycling for more information.

Refuse Collection Starts an Hour Early

To avoid the heat of the summer, refuse collection shifts to ‘warm weather hours’ and will start an hour earlier starting May 1st and continue until September 30.All refuse should be placed out for collection prior to 6:00 a.m. Visit Alexandriava.gov/RefuseCollection for more information.

You are receiving this e-mail message because you are subscribed to one or more ofthe following groups in the City of Alexandria's free eNews service:Recycling and Solid Waste Updates

If you’re thinking about making improvements that could make your home more energy-efficient, now is a great time to begin. The City of Alexandria has launched of the “Northern Virginia Home Performance with Energy Star” program, to help Alexandrians overcome barriers to improving energy efficiency in their homes. The nonprofit group Local Energy Alliance Program (LEAP) and CommonWealth One Federal Credit Union (COFCU) have partnered with Alexandria to offer the program to residents.

LEAP administers the program, and will provide home energy assessments, recommend home energy upgrades to maximize the impact on energy use, and refer homeowners to trained and certified participating contractors. To help residents pay for the upgrades, COFCU will offer eligible Alexandria homeowners access to low-interest loans of up to $20,000 (at a rate of 4.9% APR) through the Alexandria Energy Saver Loan program. The City of Alexandria supports the creation of the Energy Saver Loan program through limited funding from federal and local sources.

To get started today, visit www.ilikeleap.com and complete a free online energy assessment.For more information on resources to help residents green their home, visit the City’s Green Building Resource Center at http://alexandriava.gov/gbrc. To learn more about resources to help lower-income residents with improving their energy efficiency, contact the City’s Office of Housing at703.746.4990.

The Commission for Women and Historic Alexandria invites you to attend the Alexandria Women's History Guided Tour, Saturday, May 12 at 1 p.m.

The Women’s History Tour, which covers many different sites in a 1.5-mile loop, highlights the achievements of women in Alexandria. Through the dedication and advocacy of Susan Lowell Butler, the Commission for Women, and Friends, the stories of Alexandria’s women, from past to present, live on in the Women’s History Tour. A small reception with refreshments will follow the tour at the Lloyd House located at 220 N. Washington Street. Transportation will be provided to shuttle people from the waterfront to the Lloyd House.

The Alexandria Park and Recreation Commission is seeking nominations for the 2012 CIVIC Awards. The annual awards program recognizes the unsung volunteer efforts of Alexandrians who are involved in their communities and who have provided a valuable service to Alexandria in meeting recreation, park, or cultural needs. Nominations must be received by Thursday, June 14.

Individuals can nominate an Alexandria resident, group, club, organization, or corporate neighbor. Nominees for the award should be volunteers who have contributed their time, talent, or resources in an exemplary fashion and who reside or are located in the City. The volunteer contribution can involve activities such as removing invasive plants, coaching youth, or providing program support at City nature and recreation centers. Youth nominations are encouraged.

The CIVIC Awards are presented at the City’s Annual USA/Alexandria Birthday Celebration on July 7 at Oronoco Bay Park, 100 Madison St. A nomination package is available online atwww.alexandriava.gov/recreation, or by calling 703.746.4343.

The City of Alexandria is committed to compliance with the City’s Human Rights Code and the Americans with Disabilities Act. To request a reasonable accommodation, or to request materials in an alternative format, call William Chesley, Deputy Director, of the Department of Recreation, Parks and Cultural Activities at 703.746.4343 (Virginia Relay 711).

On March 21, 2012, City Council approved a change in the operating hours for the Old Town Farmers' Market. Beginning Saturday, May 5, the Market will open later, at 7 a.m., and remain open until 12 p.m. The Old Town Farmers’ Market is located at 301 King Street, in Market Square in front of Alexandria City Hall. The Old Town Farmers’ Market is open year-round on Saturdays, rain or shine, and features vendors that sell fresh produce, baked goods, framed art, jewelry and other handicrafts.

Alexandria hosts four other farmers’ markets within the City, and these markets are operated independently. The Del Ray Farmers’ Market is open every Saturday morning, year-round, and three other markets operate seasonally. The Upper King Street Farmers' Market opened on May 2, and the West End Farmers’ Market and the Four Mile Run Farmers’ Market are scheduled to open on Sunday, May 6. For more information, visit http://alexandriava.gov/farmersmarket.

In the City of Alexandria, the Dept. Recreation, Parks, and Cultural Activities (RPCA), Natural Resources Division; Dept. T&ES, Office of Environmental Quality; and Ford Nature Center have partnered together to maximize the City’s efforts in eradicating invasive exotic species. The ongoing restoration work at the following sites are some of many ongoing invasive exotic plant removal and stream clean-up efforts in Alexandria sponsored by the City and its partners, including the Northern Virginia Conservation Trust; Arlington Regional Master Naturalists; Virginia Native Plant Society, National Park Service; T.C. Williams High School, George Washington Middle School, and Alexandria City Public Schools; Episcopal High School; Volunteer Alexandria; various civic groups, neighborhood associations, and residents; and others. Through these collaborative efforts, the City typically hosts several large-scale, volunteer invasive exotic plant removal workdays each year, as well as numerous ongoing projects.

Invasive exotic species are recognized nationally and locally as a costly and leading threat to healthy ecosystems. The estimated annual cost of invasive species in Virginia is $1 billion (Virginia Dept. of Conservation and Recreation). Non-native invasive plants, animals, and diseases occur in all of Virginia's ecosystems and negatively affect water quality, wildlife populations, and other natural resources. Virginia's citizens can improve the situation by not planting or spreading invasive plants, by removing invasive species on their own properties, and by helping to remove them from parks and other public areas (IPRD 2012).

On May 5 from 10:00 am to 1:00 pm, the City will again participate in the annual Statewide Invasive Exotic Plant Removal Day – sponsored bythe Virginia Master Naturalists and Virginia Native Plant Society – by hand-pulling Garlic Mustard (Alliaria petiolata) throughout parks and natural areas in Alexandria. Garlic Mustard is easy to recognize and easily pulled and therefore appropriate for a variety of volunteers and ages. Moreover, a lot can be accomplished by targeting this species because numerous plants can be effectively removed and each plant pulled and bagged prevents hundreds to thousands of seeds from germinating into future years’ crops.

Garlic Mustard poses a severe threat to native plants and animals in forest communities in much of the eastern and midwestern U.S. Many native wildflowers that complete their life cycles in the springtime (e.g., Spring Beauty, Bloodroot, Dutchman's Breeches, Toothworts, and Trilliums) occur in the same habitat as Garlic Mustard. Once introduced to an area, Garlic Mustard outcompetes native plants by aggressively monopolizing light, moisture, nutrients, soil, and space. Wildlife species that depend on these early plants for their pollen, nectar, foliage, fruits, seeds, and roots are deprived of these essential food sources when Garlic Mustard replaces them. Humans are also deprived of the vibrant display of beautiful spring wildflowers.

Bags will be provided. Please bring gloves, water, and wear sturdy shoes (we will have gloves on hand for those who don’t have them). Sandals, shorts, and short-sleeved shirts are not recommended.

Chinquapin Park and Forest Park:These adjoining parks are high priorities for Garlic Mustard removal, especially where the Garlic Mustard is concentrated on a hillside at the eastern end of Chinquapin Park and along the main trail from the park entrance. We can accommodate at least 75 volunteers or more at these parks. (See Conservation Assessment and Natural Resource Management Plan for Chinquapin Park and Forest Park, City of Alexandria, Virginia athttp://alexandriava.gov/48838for more information on the parks, as well as natural resource management in the City of Alexandria.)

Directions: Shirley Highway (395) to King St. (Rt. 7) east exit. Continue east on King St. past intersection of Braddock Road and Quaker Lane and just past T.C. Williams High School to Chinquapin Dr. on right. Turn right onto Chinquapin Dr. and immediately left into small parking lot facing King St. (Additional parking above the park along Chinquapin Dr.) Walk from parking lot to entrance of Chinquapin Park at edge of woods (visible from parking area). Meet at the entrance sign.

Dora Kelley Nature Park:A large City park that stretches along Holmes Run at the eastern end of the Holmes Run Gorge. We also want to be sure to include the section along Holmes Run between Beauregard Street and the Shirley Highway (395) bike path tunnels. Past Garlic Mustard removal efforts in these areas have been very successful, however new infestations need to be removed. We can easily use 50 volunteers at these sites (or more).

Directions: Shirley Highway (395) to King St. (Rt. 7) west exit. Gradually move to left lane after exiting and take left onto Beauregard St. at bottom of hill (Beauregard St. becomes Walter Reed Dr. at this intersection at edge of City of Alexandria and Arlington County). Follow Beauregard St. south and uphill past Seminary Rd. and downhill to Sanger Ave. Take right onto Sanger Ave. and continue to its end. Turn left into parking area and proceed to parking lot at woods edge and park. Meet at Ford Nature Center, 5750 Sanger Ave.

Timber Branch Park:A small stream valley park along Timber Branch, just off W. Braddock Road. This site will require the fewest number of volunteers, with 10 or so probably sufficient to cover the park.

Directions: Shirley Highway (395) to King St. (Rt. 7) east exit. Stay in right lane of King St. after exiting and take first right onto Menokin Dr. (church on corner). Take immediate next right onto N. Van Dorn St. and follow to intersection of Braddock Road. Take left onto Braddock Road at light and proceed east past Episcopal High School and past intersection with King St. and Quaker Lane and continue east to Timber Branch Parkway on right (TB Pkwy is a long, linear loop). Turn right onto Pkwy and continue along park about half-way down its length to bridge. Park and meet at bridge.

The City of Alexandria was named one of 213 Playful City USA Communities by KaBOOM! for its efforts to increase play opportunities for children. Playful City USA, sponsored by the Humana Foundation, is a national program advocating for local policies that improve children’s play opportunities.

Alexandria was selected for its outstanding dedication to play. The Alexandria Childhood Obesity Action Network (A-COAN) launched the Project Play initiative this year to raise awareness about the importance of play, improve play environments for more than 6,000 Alexandria children, and ensure that every child has access to a quality playground. A-COAN, in collaboration with the City, Alexandria/Arlington Smart Beginnings, and ACTion Alexandria, developed a playspace assessment tool and assessed 86 public/semi-public playgrounds that served children of all ages. A-COAN’s Project Play Task Force is in the process of developing recommendations based on the assessment.

This recognition also lauds the work of the Alexandria Department of Recreation, Parks, and Cultural Activities (RPCA), which has renovated three playgrounds this year and successfully raised enough public-private funds to build a Miracle Field that will provide a rubber-like outdoor field with a cushioned surface for people using wheel chairs, walkers, and similar equipment, making it safe for people of all abilities to play.In addition to providing physical places for play, RPCA provides year-round activities for children ages 3 to 17.

According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, play is critical to healthy brain development. It allows children to use their creativity while simultaneously developing imagination, dexterity and physical, cognitive and emotional strength. Yet today’s children spend less time playing outside than any previous generation in part because only one in five kids live within walking distance of a park or playground. The resulting play deficit is having profound consequences for kids physically, socially and academically.

KaBOOM!, a national nonprofit organization dedicated to saving play, created Playful City USA in 2007 to help local governments address this play deficit.

As a Playful City USA community, Alexandria is now eligible for $20,000 in grants from Let’s Play, a community partnership led by the Dr., Pepper Snapple Group, to get children and families active nationwide. Grant recipients will be announced on June 4, 2012.

Are you fully prepared for the severe storms that often accompany warmerVirginia weather? If not, start making your shopping list now! *Virginia’sHurricane Preparedness Sales Tax Holiday takes place May 25-31, 2012*.During this week-long holiday, shoppers will pay no sales tax on qualifyingitems like flashlights, batteries and bottled water, priced at $60 or less,or generators priced at $1,000 or less. To see the full list of items thatwill be exempt, along with guidelines for the holiday and answers tofrequently-asked questions, head on over to the Department of Taxation’s SalesTax Information Center http://www.tax.virginia.gov/site.cfm?alias=HurricanePreparednessEquipmentHoliday

So, it's that time of year again, time to thank the teachers for putting up with your kid for another year teaching your child.

Here are some that we have put together as a class over the last few years - (I know preschool is easier than grade school)

Its been easy - we just ask about $10 from each family to contribute towards this "themed" gift. Some families only give $10, some give more, whatever they can and want to contribute. We pool the money and get each teacher a themed bag. We usually tailor it to the teacher's interests. It's great and it looks like so much more than just a gift card from each family.

City of Alexandria Reminds Dog Owners About Rules to Remember with their Four-Footed Friends

For many Alexandrians, there is nothing better than a walk or a run with their four-footed friend. Dogs are welcome in public parks but are to be kept secured by a leash unless in a designated dog exercise area or dog park. Dogs are not permitted in certain areas as marked by official City signage, including athletic fields, playgrounds, and school grounds.

The Department of Recreation, Parks, and Cultural Activities provides eighteen dog exercise areas and fenced dog parks for the convenience and enjoyment of City residents. Unfenced off-leash dog exercise areas have defined boundaries marked by bollards and are designated locations for dogs and their owners to exercise and recreate without disrupting other uses of the parks. Dog owners who believe their pets are not safe in an open exercise area are encouraged to visit a fenced dog park.

Please remember that regardless of whether a dog is in an off-leash or open area, if it defecates on public property the owner/handler of the dog must immediately remove the waste and dispose of it in a trash receptacle.

For complete listing of City of Alexandria Dog Parks & Exercise Areas, and to obtain a copy of theDog Owner’s Guide to Enjoying the Parks of Alexandria, visit Dogs in Alexandria.

Stabler-Leadbeater Apothecary Museum Hosts Volunteer Training

Discover Rewarding Volunteer Opportunities , Saturday, June 2

Want to share your interest in Alexandria history with others? Curious about early American medicine and health? Then consider volunteering as a tour guide at the Stabler-Leadbeater Apothecary in historic Old Town Alexandria.

The Stabler-Leadbeater Apothecary Museum, at 105-107 South Fairfax Street, is hosting a new volunteer training Saturday, June 2 from 9 a.m. to 12 noon. This three hour class includes a tour and the basics of giving museum tours. Pre-registration is required. Volunteers can complete an application online through www.apothecarymuseum.org or email Michele.longo@alexandriava.gov.

The Stabler-Leadbeater Apothecary Museum in Old Town Alexandria is noted for its outstanding collection of medicinal herbs, shop furnishings, apothecary bottles and equipment, many still in their original location. It also has a spectacular collection of archival materials, including journals, letters and diaries, prescription and formula books, ledgers, orders and invoices. The names of famous customers appear in the documents, including Martha Washington, Nelly Custis, and Robert E. Lee.

Ready to do a little shopping in Old Town and support 30+ charities at the same time? TheOld Town Boutique District is pleased to announce its 2nd AnnualBoutiques Give Back Daytaking place onSaturday, May 19, 2012. This creative, small business driven, yet community focused event is staged to be the largest charity collaboration in the DC Metro area.

Each retail member of the OTBD has hand-picked a local or national charity/organization to support and honor on this special shopping day. On this day, retailers will create an activity or promotion in their stores that will benefit that charity of choice. Here's who is participating and their charity of choice. Keep watching this space as the boutiques add their selected organizations to support.

Donating 20% of sales. PLUS giving free design advice all day; bring in your swatches and paint colors. From 2-3PM, meet and ask questions of an architect from Habitat for Humanity. Finally, kids will have their own arts & craft project - building their own paper houses.